SUMMER SWIMMING

Since we moved into this new neighborhood, we have had access to a pool! Last summer while I was pregnant we went to the pool maybe once or twice a month - this summer!?!? we were in the pool at least two or three times a week!

With all of this water fun, it was imperative that the kiddos get more familiar with the water. I started first by purchasing puddle jumpers. Last year we had life jackets and they did not work for us. I found out from other moms that life jackets are meant to have kids float on their backs and await rescue. Puddle Jumpers, however, are designed to keep kids' heads above water but forward facing.

I rushed over to Target and grabbed two Puddle Jumpers to start the summer.

In addition, I looked around for swimming classes for Khyri. Kielle was still in school all day, so I wasn't so concerned with her learning to swim this summer. I decided to look at the local Smyrna Community Pool over at Tolleson Park. For $75 you can get 8 forty five minute swim classes held Monday through Thursday. Sign us up! I signed Khyri up for the beginner's class and it was a good pace. There were 6 or so kids each day and two instructors. 

The instructors worked on the fundamentals of swimming from kicking with straight legs, to breathing under water. The children used kick boards to work on their technique and pushed each other to swim across from one edge of the pool to the other. 

At the end of each class, The kids got to jump off the diving board into the 12 foot depth. 

Now I feel very comfortable taking all three kiddos to the pool by myself. I know that Kielle has her puddle jumpers to keep her afloat and Khyri's swimming skills are getting better each day. I will definitively sign them up for classes next year so Khyri can improve his technique and Kielle can hopefully move to swimming without the Puddle Jumpers.

KADIR IS EVERYWHERE!

Well baby boy is getting reeeeaaalll comfortable with his strength and legs :-) Since he has learned to crawl and pull up, he has been getting into EVERYTHING. The baby gates are installed for safety, but baby boy is definitely on the move.

Now's the time when Kadir is about to really get to know the world. We will be stepping up our outings so that we can enjoy the world tacitly - by touching a s much as possible! 

LITTLE CHEFS

Khyri and Kielle like helping me cook. Usually its a simple dinner meal maybe spaghetti or something like that. Every now and again we will bake something.

Making Lemon Pepper Chicken Strips

Making Banana Muffins with Crumb Topping

Making Chicken Stir Fry

WE GOT SNOW

Ok so this post is clearly late, as we are now experiencing 80 degree weather, but I wanted to document the 2015 snowfall.

This is the view from our back window. There had been ramblings about snow, but so far this year the snow hadn't stuck... so this was a nice sight to see :-)

School was cancelled and we had a honest to goodness snow day.

 

It may look like a little bit of snow, but this was perfect for the munchkins! They ate icicles, made snowballs and even attempted snow angels.

 

 

Khyri helped me shovel what little snow we had and when we were all exhausted from the snow fun, we got some hot chocolate from the neighbor girl across the street.

Our snow man was cute, but the absolute cutest little snow bunny was this chunk right here...

WILL YOU BE MY...

VALENTINE???

Enjoy the special day!

LET'S GO TO THE MOVIES

Kielle and Khyri have finally joined the masses of American children and went to the movies in January. People ask me why they haven't been to the movies yet, and mostly it was because we do so many other things, the movies wasn't really on my radar. Also, though, I feel like a lot of the movies these days have adult material that I just don't think they needed to be exposed to. I wanted their first movie to be the right movie, so I just waited... and waited... and waited...

In January 2015 at ages 4 and 5 the big sibs went to Regal Cinema to see the movie Paddington. It was the PERFECT movie - Clean, wholesome, and full of comedy.

Of course I make a big deal out of "firsts", so we did it big time at the movie theater. We took pictures in the photo booth, got the kiddie snack packs, and even played in the mini arcade. Now, normal Mosley Movie going involves bringing in snacks and going straight to the theater - no looking right or left. ahahahah. But this was a special day :-)

Here are pictures from our big day.

The kids loved the movie. We only had to get up once for Kielle to go to the restroom. Next time though, I will use the booster seats - both of the kiddos were too light to hold the seats down :-) ahhahahahah So they literally sat on the edge of their seats the whole time!

Surprisingly the kids haven't really spoken about the movies since that weekend. If another good movie comes out I will definitely take them, but I think we're more into doing things outdoors for now.

HELPING HANDS

I was in serious cleaning mode this weekend and as I was cleaning out the bathroom cabinet, I came across tons of toiletry samples I had ordered or gotten from hotels. I decided that this was a good opportunity to bless someone less fortunate and teach the kiddos about charity and helping when possible.

I rounded up my helpers and explained that we were going to make "goodie bags" for people who were homeless. I explained that we are very lucky to have a house with rooms and beds and pillows. We are very lucky to have enough food to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner - and even snacks in between. I talked to the munchkins about how it is hard for people without homes, especially in the winter time, when it gets cold.

We started by separating out toiletries to see how many bags we could make. We had shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, dental floss, deodorant, cotton balls, and nail files. All of the items were travel or sample size, so that I could fill small sandwich bags for easy transport.

I had read an article some time last year about how the extra unpleasantness that homeless women face when they have their cycles, so I placed 2 sanitary napkins in each female bag.

In addition to the toiletries, I placed a little note inside each bag and the kiddos drew pictures on the notes. The favorite inspiration that I included was from Carl Bard:

Though no one can can go back and make a brand new start,

Anyone can start from now and make a brand new beginning.

My plan is to keep 2 bags in the center console of the car, so if we pass a homeless person or if we are approached, I can just hand them the bag and wish them luck. In total, the kids and I made 6 bags (4 female and 2 male). Its not much, but its always nice to give what you can - when you can.